The World Surf League (WSL) will be returning to the idyllic right-hand point breaks of Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, in September for the So Sri Lanka Pro Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event. Approximately 100 surfers from more than 22 nations will take part in the five-day contest sponsored by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau will draw a massive international field of competitors all vying for important QS points as they look to qualify for the elite Championship Tour (CT). The 2019 So Sri Lanka Pro Men’s QS 3,000 will run from September 25-29.
The beautiful and consistent point breaks of the Arugam Bay area are world renowned for offering up long high performance walls with endless turn and tube sections making it the perfect place for professional event of this magnitude. The last time the WSL held an event in this area it was won by perennial world title threat Julian Wilson in the year that he qualified for the CT.
“Sri Lanka is an incredibly beautiful country with an abundance of waves on offer for surfers of all levels so we are glad to be heading back. With world class surf and solid qualifying points on offer at the So Sri Lanka Pro, we’re expecting a solid field of some of surfing’s biggest names to attend this year’s event,” said WSL Asia Event Director Steve Robertson. The So Sri Lanka Pro will also play as a huge opportunity for some of the local surfers to take on the international professionals on wildcard entries to the event. This opportunity is something that has been made possible through the WSL and the Sri Lankan Surfing Federation.
“It will be amazing to have the WSL come back to Sri Lanka We can’t wait to witness a world class event and watch the positive affect it will have on surf sports in our country and on surf tourism to the area. Arugam Bay is a world-class wave with some fantastic local surfers and these surfers are looking forward to the opportunity to compete with surfers from all round the world. They will have the opportunity to compete with wildcards, which will be incredible experience for them, particularly as they prepare for the ISA World Games in Japan and Olympic Qualification,” said Sri Lanka Surfing Federation President Hiran Ukwatte. “I believe that this will bring more international events to our country with the natural surfing points available in the Island throughout the year. Sri Lanka is a very popular sporting destination as far as International surfing is concerned.
Sri Lanka is blessed with natural resources which can be turned into many sporting venues for global event. Surfing points are one of them where you get the required waves within a short period of time in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.
We are glad to be part of the event as we move into promoting water sports in Sri Lanka and also hold many other Pro surfing event as well,” said Chairman LSR Thilak Weerasinghe.
Lanka Sportsreizen (LSR) will play a major role as Event Partner and “Jeep” as the Automotive Partner while the Prime Minister’s Office as a strategic partner they have ensured all parties working together for Sri Lanka.
SriLankan Airlines Corporate Event and Promotions Manager Gayan Peiris, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Kishu Gomes, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga, World Surf League Regional Manager (Asia) Steve Robertson also attended the media briefing held at Olympic House, Colombo on Wednesday. For more information log to www.worldsurfleague.com or download the WSL App.
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